Saddle rig bar

ABSTRACT

An elongated bar for use in pairs and disposition along opposite sides of a saddle tree and securement to the remote lower edge portions of the legs of the saddle tree fork at points adjacent the front and rear ends of the fork legs. The bars each include opposite end attachment points by which the bars are to be secured to the corresponding fork legs by suitable fasteners secured through the attachment points and anchored to the fork legs. Some of the disclosed attachment points are rigid with the corresponding ends of the associated bar and some of the disclosed attachment points are pivotally secured to the opposite ends of the corresponding bar for oscillation about substantially aligned axes. Further, one form of saddle rig anchor disclosed includes merely mounting eyes or rings rigidly attached to the opposite ends of each fork leg of an associated saddle tree without a bar portion extending between each pair of opposite side mounting eyes or rings.

United States Patent [191 Douglas [451 Feb. 20, 1973 [54] SADDLE RIG BAR [76] Inventor: Robert A. Douglas, PO. Box 4002,

Sheridan, Wyo. 82801 [22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1970 211 App]. No.: 75,215

[52] U.S. Cl ..54/46 [51] Int. Cl ..B68c 1/02 [58] Field of Search ..54/44, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 409,848 8/1889 Lewis ..54/46 2,525,849 10/1950 Allison ..54/46 1,087,557 2/1914 Schoellkopf ..54/46 2,418,103 3/1947 Wells v ..54/44 2,116,585 5/1938 Smith ..54/44 2,474,953 7/1949 Mock et a1. ..54/46 Primary Examinerl-lugh R. Chamblee Y Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacob- [57] ABSTRACT An elongated bar for use in pairs and disposition along opposite sides of a saddle tree and securement to'the remote lower edge portions of the legs of the saddle tree fork at points adjacent the front and rear ends of the fork legs. The bars each include opposite end attachment points by which the bars are to be secured to the corresponding fork legs by suitable fasteners secured through the attachment points and anchored to the fork legs. Some of the disclosed attachment points are rigid with the corresponding ends of the associated bar and some of the disclosed attachment points are pivotally secured to the opposite'ends of the corresponding bar for oscillation about substantially aligned axes. Further, one form of saddle rig anchor disclosed includes merely mounting eyes or rings rigidly attached to the opposite ends of each fork leg of an associated saddle tree without a bar portion extending between each pair of opposite side mounting eyes or rings.

2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEBZO I973 sum 10F 2 Robert/4. Doug/as l.\' VEXTOK PATENTEUFEBZOIQH 3.716.965

SHEET 2 OF 2 Robert A Doug/as I.\' VENTOR.

SADDLE RIG BAR The saddle rig anchor of the instant invention has been designed to provide a strong anchor assembly for anchoring various saddle rigging to a saddle tree. The saddle rig anchor may be utilized in attaching a breast collar strap to a saddle tree, back billets to saddle trees and a latigo to a saddle tree which is used in tightening and fastening a cinch. In addition, the saddle rig anchor may be utilized to'anchor various other rigging to;.a saddle.

Those forms of the invention illustrated and described hereinafter utilizing a rigid bar connecting corresponding attaching points additionally serve to strengthen the saddle tree and also provide points of attachment for various saddle rigging elements which are more securely anchored relative to the associated saddle tree.

The main object of this invention is to provide a saddle rig anchor assembly which will be capable of providing more durable points of attachment for various saddle rigging elements to a saddle tree.

Another object of this invention is to provide a saddle rig anchor in accordance with the immediately preceding object and which will also serve to brace and therefore strengthen the associated saddle tree.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a saddle rig anchor constructed in a manner whereby the various anchor portions thereof are stronger than conventional saddle rigging anchor members.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a saddle rig anchor assembly which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy toinstall so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in installation. I

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional form of saddle tree with a saddle rig anchor assembly of the instant invention illustrated as secured to the left hand side of the saddle tree;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the saddle rig anchor illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is another side elevational view of a saddle tree illustrating a fourth modified form of saddle rig anchor assembly secured thereto;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 11-11 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a saddle tree illustrating a fifth modified form of saddle rig anchor assembly secured thereto.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of saddle tree including elongated opposite side fork legs 12. In FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, a first form of saddle rig anchor assembly is generally referred to by the reference numeral 14 and includes two pairs of rigid anchor members 16 and 18 with each pair of anchor members 16 and 18 interconnected by means of a contoured rigid bar 20. The anchor members 16 and 18 each comprise rigid plates and the plates 16 and 18 include depending ring portions 22 and 24, respectively, which are rigid and formed integrally therewithlln addition, the elongated contoured bar 20 is also rigid and extends between the ring portions 22 and 24 of the corresponding assembly 14.

The anchor members or plates 16 and 18 are rigidly secured to longitudinally spaced portions of the corresponding legs 12 by means of suitable fasteners 26 FIG. 3is a top plan view of the saddle rig anchor assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon'the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a saddle tree illustrating a modified form of saddle rig anchor secured thereto;

secured through the plates 16 and 18 and anchored in the legs 12. In addition, it will be seen that each of the assemblies 14 includes a forward eye portion 28.

By securing an anchor assembly 14 to each of the legs 12 the latter are braced and the ring portions 22 and 24 as well as the eyes 28 are rigidly attached to the saddle tree 12. A breast collar strap such as that designated by the reference numeral 30 may be supported from the eyes '28, a latigo such as that designated by the reference numeral 32 may be supported from the ring portions 22 and a back billet generally referred to by the reference numeral 34 may be supported from the ring portions 24. Thus, not only do the assemblies provide rigid and strong anchors for the saddle accessories 30, 32 and 34, but they also serve to rigidify and brace the saddle tree 10 itself.

It may be seen that the bars 20 are contoured so as to conform to the shape of the saddle tree 10 and also the adjacent portions of the horse upon which the saddle tree 10 will be placed.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 5 of the drawings, there will be seen a saddle rig anchor assembly referred to in general by the. reference numeral 40 and which is similar to the assembly 14 in that it includes anchor members or plates 42 and 44 corresponding to the plates 16 and 18 as well as ring portions 46 and 48 corresponding to the ring portions 22' and'24 and a bar 50 interconnecting the ring portions 46 and 48 corresponding to the bar 20. However, the

.lower marginal edge portions of the anchor members or oscillated about an axis generally paralleling the bar 50 and extending along the corresponding leg 12 of the saddle tree 10. a

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 7 of the drawings, there will be seen a saddle rig anchor assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 60 and which is similar to the saddle rig assembly 40 except that the ring portions 62 and 64 at the opposite ends of each bar 66 of the assembly 60 are only partial and not fully closed. Further, the anchor assembly 60 does not include an eye portion corresponding to the eye 28. However, the anchor assemblies 60 each includes a pair of anchor members or plates 68 and 70 corresponding to the plates 42 and 44 and to which the opposite ends of the bar 66 are pivotally secured by means of pivot fasteners 72 and 74.

With attention now invited more specifically to .FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings there will be seen still another modified form of saddle rig anchor assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 80 and which includes a pair of anchor members or plates 82 and 84 corresponding to the plates 42 and 44. In addition, the assembly 80 includes a pair of ring portions 86 and 88 pivotally secured to the plates 82 and 84 by means of pivot pins 90 and 92. However, the ring portions 86 and 88 are not interconnected by means of a rigid bar. Instead, a flexible panel member 96 of any suitable material has the opposite ends of its upper -marginal edge portion secured beneath the adjacent corners of the plates 82 and 84 and the opposite ends of its lower marginal edge portion secured to the adjacent ends of the rings or ring portions 86 and 88 by means of any suitable fasteners 98 and 100.

In FIG. of the drawings there may be seen still another modified form of saddle rig anchor assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 102 and the assembly 102 is similar to the assembly 40 in that it includes mounting plates 104 and 106 corresponding to the plates 42 and 44. Further, the assembly 102 includes an elongated bar l08'corresponding to the bar 50 having a forward ring portion 110 and a forward eye 112. In addition, the opposite ends of the bar 102 are, pivotally secured to the bifurcated plates 104 and 106 by means ofv pivot pins 114 and 116, However, the rear end of the bar 102, in lieu of'a ring portion such as ring portion 48, includes an integral rigid mounting tab-l18 suitable apertured as at whereby a back billet may be secured to the rear end of the bar 108.

Flnally, in FIG. 12 of the drawings there may be seen still another modified form of saddle rig anchor assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 122 and which includes front and rear plates 124 and 126 rigidly secured to the saddle tree 10 and the plates 124 and 126 include integral depending ring portions 128 and 130. However, the ring portions 128 and 130 are not interconnected by means of an integral rigid bar. However, the anchor members or plates 124 and 126 are rigidly secured to the corresponding side of the saddle tree 10 and therefore still afford rigid mountings v for saddle accessories such as those mentioned hereinbefore.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a saddle tree including a fork defined by apair of generally parallel opposite side legs each pair of anchor membersbeing formed integrally. with an elongated rigid generally horizontal member extending therebetween, each of said rigid anchor members comprising a single one-piece rigid plate portion secured to said tree with the corresponding anchor portions being formed integrally therewith.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said anchorportions depends downwardly from the lower edge portion of the corresponding plate portion. 

1. In combination, a saddle tree including a fork defined by a pair of generally parallel opposite side legs including front and rear end portions, a saddle rig anchor assembly comprising pairs of opposite side rigid front and rear anchor members rigidly supported from the front and rear end portiOns of the corresponding legs adjacent the lower marginal edge portions thereof, each of said anchor members including a rigid anchor portion dependingly supported therefrom in vertical registry therewith and to which saddle rigging elements may be conveniently secured, the anchor portions of each pair of anchor members being formed integrally with an elongated rigid generally horizontal member extending therebetween, each of said rigid anchor members comprising a single one-piece rigid plate portion secured to said tree with the corresponding anchor portions being formed integrally therewith.
 1. In combination, a saddle tree including a fork defined by a pair of generally parallel opposite side legs including front and rear end portions, a saddle rig anchor assembly comprising pairs of opposite side rigid front and rear anchor members rigidly supported from the front and rear end portiOns of the corresponding legs adjacent the lower marginal edge portions thereof, each of said anchor members including a rigid anchor portion dependingly supported therefrom in vertical registry therewith and to which saddle rigging elements may be conveniently secured, the anchor portions of each pair of anchor members being formed integrally with an elongated rigid generally horizontal member extending therebetween, each of said rigid anchor members comprising a single one-piece rigid plate portion secured to said tree with the corresponding anchor portions being formed integrally therewith. 